Maybe not exactly what you are looking for, as far as authentic cooking, but they look like cool classes.

http://www.hipcooks.com/

It hasn't come up and I'm sure there are some mixed reviews of this place, especially since it on the pricey side, but Amy's Patio Cafe has a good savory breakfast. I'm especially a fan of their Savory Omelet - goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. The eggs are always well cooked, they have a variety of meats to chose from and you always get zucchini bread to start your meal. As for the coffee, I don't drink the stuff, but my fiance likes it. It's not a big place, though and you may have to wait for a table on the weekends. They serve lunch too, and served dinner last summer (not sure if they will do it again).

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Amy's Patio Cafe
900 E Altadena Dr, Altadena, CA 91001

This is the wrong side of town for you, but there is a Halal place at the corner of Caleveras and Lake in Altadena. They advertise various types of burgers (lamb and beef) and fried chicken, it's next to a Muslim community center, Masjid Al-Taqwa, though I'm not sure what the name of the restaurant is.

Mahogany Smoked Meats

http://www.smokedmeats.com/

It's on the 395, in Bishop, on the right just before you pass the casino (if you are going north).

http://www.yelp.com/biz/mahogany-coun...

Yea,

Good call on Porta Via

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Porta Via
424 N. Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

The Wine Detective in Pasadena across from The Counter has a self-serve enomatic wine dispensers.

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Wine Detective
146 S Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Don't know about the chocolate truffles, and it might not be quite as nice as what you are looking for, but Domenico's on Washington does italian and you can get the salad, pasta and meat dishes. The food is decent straight ahead italian, choice of pasta with marinara, chicken (Marsala, picatta, etc), you get the idea. If you pick it up, you can get some gourmet ice cream from Carmela's nearby.

Another idea would be to pick up rotisserie chicken from Soumarelo and gussy it up with some of the sides. Then you can hit up Vrej bakery for dessert.

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Domenico's Italian Restaurant
2411 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104

Vrej Pastry
1074 N Allen Ave, Pasadena, CA

Soumarelo Restaurant
1090 N. Allen Ave., Pasadena, CA 91104

Carmela Ice Cream
2495 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104

We hit Quadrupel once, but found it to me fairly mediocre. The ideas were decent, nothing revolutionary, very typical fine dining fair. But in general, the execution was off.

FYI, Madeleine's has been closed for about a year now. It's just as well, they went through some changes in the back, and the think the down economy took them out. You are in luck though, the former chef at Madeleine's Claud Beltran opened up a new place on Mentor next to the Ice House. It's called Noir. It's pretty small, though the recently opened patio will be nice I think when the days get longer (and when it's not raining). They have an extensive wine list and the food, which is mostly small plates, is excellent.

I'd recommend it, but make a reservation, because it is small.

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Noir Food & Wine
40 North Mentor Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91106

In regards to Hey That's Amore, I know it's kinda close to Old Town, but you mind he experience of going there not so bad. It is right around the corner from the parking garage on Raymond near Walnut that has free parking for the first 90 minutes. Perfect for pick-up or even a leisurely lunch.

That said, they seem to only have lunch hours and since I don't work (though live) in the Pasadena area, I've never made it there.

As for other places, I know Porta Via makes a meatball hoagie with their fresh made meatballs, though I couldn't tell you if it is what you are looking for.

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Porta Via Italian Foods
1 W California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105

Hey That's Amore
27 E Holly St, Pasadena, CA 91103

Yeah, I did not have the gyro the times I've been there

I've been working in Santa Clarita for a few years now (live in Pasadena) and found it to full of chains, so if that's your thing, you set. If you want to step out of the chain, here is the list of places that I've found that I like, though I'm sure there are more.

Maru - probably the best restaurant in the SCV, the sushi is generally fresh

Urbane Cafe- it's a small Cali-chain, their bread is kind of funky, but the sandwich are decent and it comes with a pretty good salad

Italia Panetteria and Deli - pretty good Italian Deli with fresh made sandwiches from Boar's Head meat and some pasta dishes which are ok.

Maria's Italian-American Deli - an older, bigger version of Italia, with pizza as well. The sandwiches aren't as good (mostly because of the bread) but they have a bigger menu

Grill Kabob - as far as I know, the only decent Mediterranean place in the are, skip AtoZ, Mediterranean Skewer (for the love of god), and I much prefer Grill Kabob to Athena's in Canyon Country

Tri Tips - decent BBQ, again the best of the lot in SCV

Jasmine Thai - Pretty good straight ahead Thai food, I prefer this over 'Mom Can Cook'

Sabor - a "fancier" sit-down Mexican place which is waaay better than El Torito,

I will admit that I don't really know much about the Taco joints in the SCV, I go to Las Delicias on the Old Road, but only because it's close to work and the girls that run the place are nice. As for pizza, nothing has blown me away, but the is plent of OK pizza, Nick and Joe's, Tomato Joe's come to mind.

One good source for food in SCV can be found here

http://www.yelp.com/user_details?user...

Mike is pretty honest with his reviews and doesn't give them any slack just because they are local, which I like.

Good luck and let me know if you find anything worthy

Michael

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Maria's Italian-American Deli
22620 Lyons Ave, Newhall, CA 91321

Grill Kabob
27653 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91350

Jasmine Thai Restaurant
1145 S Victoria Ave, Ventura, CA 93003

Maru
1201 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Mediterranean Skewers
28050 Hasley Canyon Rd, Castaic, CA 91384

Tomato Joe's
27732 McBean Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91354

It's not really in LA per se, but up in the town of Joshua Tree there is a small strip mall owned by a nice Indian family. the front half is a convenience store. The back half,is, however, a pizza place, that also serves Indian food. I've never had the pizza, though it looks decent, but the Indian food is pretty serviceable, especially considering where you are, though they do seem to use a crap ton of turmeric in their food, everything is pretty bright orange.

Sam's Pizza
61380 29 Palms Hwy # 13, Joshua Tree, CA 92252-1916

Philly's Best has them, though my only experience with that, that I've had is at the Pasadena location, which is closed now, I believe. There are some other locations around the area

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Philly's Best
1419 W Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91506

Philly's Best
18691 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Philly's Best
4250 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92604

Of there's always Popeye's too. They have a spicy option. Popeye's can be pretty greasy, but it's kinda spicy for fast food...

I second Kyochon, or any Korean fried chicken place like Bonchon or Chicken Day(though their is spicy isn't very spicy). The quality control can be pretty hit or miss at all of these places, I've had Kyochon that was simply amazing, while I've had it other times when it was barely edible.

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Kyochon Chicken
3833 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

BonChon Chicken
3407 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Chicken Day
2383 Foothill Blvd Ste D, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011

At risk of contributing to some sort pizza purity argument - (if you love Totino's from the freezer aisle and call it pizza, more power to you) - anyway, I believe that Tarantino's may fall into a little know pizza niche known as Pittsburgh-style pizza, characterized by thick bubbly crust, lots of sweet tomato sauce, heavy on the cheese and toppings. It's probably a creation of my own mind, but it's the pizza I remember eating from the local pizzeria's in Pittsburgh when I was growing up. If you ever sit down in that place you may notice that the owners are likely from Pittsburgh. Anyway, my foolish two cents.

While, I haven't had Johnny Reb's , I am skeptical. I have found that most places here that claim to Carolina-style Pork BBQ (which Carolina-style, I ask), are severely lacking. I wonder if it's because they tend to use the wrong part of the pig (pork shoulder vs. the butt). That said, I have found Oinkster and Gus's to be lacking, not only as North Carolina -style, but as pulled pork in general. Seriously, get yourself a plane ticket to RDU and head to Allen & Sons in Durham, NC.

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Oinkster
2005 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Gus's Barbeque
808 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Beyond just places that do a good version of the classic corned hash, I was hoping to find some corned beef hash that went outside the box. Pulled-pork hash, while tempting, wasn't really what I had in mind, since, by definition, it doesn't have corned beef. Not to mention the fact that I don't really believe anyone in LA has any idea how make a good pulled pork (Gus's and Oinkster included)

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Oinkster
2005 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

I agree

Hmmm, I had pretty much the most frustrating service experience I've had since moving to LA at Mike and Anne's (resulting in not even eating the food - but then who would eat at a place that can't even produce an appetizer after an hour and a half). I might give it another shot. Might....

My mom used to make some pretty basic corned beef hash for lunch on the weekends when I was growing up. I've found some decent corned beef hash at Andy's Coffee Shop in Pasadena. It was good, tasty corned beef and well-cooked (read lots of crispy bits) potatoes, but it was nothing special. Anyone know of a place in or near the SGV that might have some corned beef hash that is a step up?

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Andy's Coffee Shop
1234 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106

No offense, but the Cubano at Porto sis all kinds of wrong - wrong bread, wrong mustard, wrong cooking..ugh. I will admit some of their other stuff if pretty good, but the Cuban is just wrong.

That said, I agree with the other poster about Baracoa, the Ropa Vieja and the Ox-tail are great.

Indeed, admittedly, I pretty much forgot about the "Don't want to spend a bloody fortune" part when I posted....my bad. and honestly I'd say that the DRL will be a lot of blood letting, if not organ donation (though we aren't talking Urasawa here)

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Urasawa Restaurant
218 N Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

I've been the the Langham Dining Room twice since Michael Voltaggio has been there and have found it excellent. Yes the decor is still out of the 1950s and the hotel smells like old-lady perfume, but the food and service have been great. They have talked about a complete remodel, but as far as I know, they are still open.

I agree, while much of Porto's fare is pretty tasty, their Cuban sandwich is just all kinds of wrong. From the bread right down to the type of mustard they use. Honestly, I'm not usually one who gets caught up in authenticity or adhering some sort of traditional style, but that sandwich isn't really even that good.

With that Slaw Dogs backlash that I'm seeing in "other" places, it does my heart good to see someone who is "keeping it real".

Personally I think all the westsiders are poo-pooin' it simply because it's not on the westside.

FYI
Elements Kitchen is now located on El Molino next to the Pasadena Playhouse.

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Elements Kitchen
37 S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Perhaps that's why they give you wet napkins with every order at this place.

Hey, maybe it's just me and my dog eating technique. Perhaps I learn a more ginger touch...